Kochi Water Metro waiting for inauguration for a year

Friday 03 March, 2023 | 1:22 AM

KOCHI: Seven state-of-the-art AC electric boats, six terminals, and systems worth hundreds of crores. All these have been lying idle for a year. Although Kochi Water Metro's primary phase is all set, everything is remaining idle due to the unavailability of the inaugurator.

Six trial services are being run on the High Court-Vypin and Vyttila-Kakkanad routes daily from 1 pm to 6 pm in order to ensure that the boats do not get damaged. More than 21 lakh rupees per month have to be paid to 70 employees as salaries. The state government has half stake in Kochi Water Metro, a subsidiary company of Kochi Metro. Although the Kochi Metro had given a letter to the Transport Department months ago informing that it was ready for service and inauguration, the state government was waiting for the convenience of the Prime Minister. President Draupadi Murmu may come to Kochi in the third week of this month. Sources said that efforts are being made to invite the President to inaugurate the Water Metro.

It has been five months since the first service was fixed on the High Court - Vypin route. The trial run on the Vyttila-Kakkanad route was conducted last March. Terminals are ready in Vyttila, Kakkanad, High Court, Vypin and Bolgatty. South Chittoor, Eloor and Cheranallur terminals will be ready soon. Terminals in Fort Kochi, Kadamakkudy and Chariyamthuruth are almost complete. Work has not started on the canals where small boats will conduct service.

Kochi model

Projects are being considered in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi and Assam by taking Kochi Water Metro as a model. Kochi Metro is trying for its consultancy and construction. Discussions were also held with Cochin Shipyard to build eight boats on the Ganges in Varanasi and two boats in Assam.

Boats